After leading the U.S. men’s basketball team to Olympic gold last year and two weeks before the start of his 30th season as head coach of Duke University’s men’s basketball team, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K), 61, is teaming up with the Arthritis Foundation to help raise awareness of the disease that nearly ended his coaching career 10 years ago.
It was during the 1994 season when Coach K first experienced pain and discomfort in his left hip due to osteoarthritis. Over the next five years, the pain only got worse and in 1999, at the age of 52, Coach K was walking with a limp and coaching Duke basketball games from a chair – an unfamiliar sight to those who had grown accustomed to seeing his active and energetic coaching style.
“Most people know Coach K as a legendary coach and humanitarian, but very few know the impact osteoarthritis had on his life before he was able to take control over it,” said John H. Klippel, MD, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “Unfortunately, many people are not aware of how serious, painful and life-altering a disease like osteoarthritis can be and what the options are to prevent or treat it across a continuum of care.”
Coach K had his left hip replaced in April 1999 and underwent rehabilitation from April to June. In June he was back to doing his previous activities and was no longer in pain, no longer walking with a limp and his range of motion had improved. In October 2000, he was back on the court running up and down the sidelines -- he didn’t miss a season. One year later, Coach K led Duke to its third NCAA national championship further solidifying his reputation as one of the top college basketball coaches of all time.